The post-professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program is a clinical doctorate program intended for occupational therapists who have already completed an entry level, accredited occupational therapy program at the Master or Baccalaureate degree level. The post-professional OTD program is designed with a set of core courses for all students to take, as well as a designated specialty track allowing students to focus their doctoral work in a specific area of interest or practice.

Applicants who have completed an accredited occupational therapy program at the Master’s degree must have a minimum of one year of full time clinical experience as a licensed occupational therapist. The focus of the bachelor’s to post-professional OTD Track is to help licensed occupational therapists with a bachelor’s degree to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to remain competitive in the occupational therapy profession at the doctoral level.

This flexible program is offered completely online with no residency requirement. Students will attend an online orientation with their cohort at the beginning of their coursework. A synchronous online presentation is required at the end of the program to present/defend their capstone project.

Program Requirements

For students who completed an entry level, accredited occupational therapy program at the Master’s degree level, the post-professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate requires the completion of 36 credits to meet degree requirements. For students who completed an entry level, accredited occupational therapy program at the Bachelor’s degree level, the post-professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate requires completion of 54 credits to meet degree requirements.

All students choose from one of the following concentrations:

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates who complete any concentration within the Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate are expected to be able to:

• Demonstrate advanced reasoning and critical thinking related to occupational therapy theory, models of practice, and evidence-based evaluations/interventions;
• Value the occupational core of the profession and the profession’s focus on occupational performance outcomes for those receiving OT services;
• Be critical consumers of and contributors to research generated within and outside the discipline of OT;
• Advocate for, and actively promote, occupational therapy and the clients/consumers served;
• Demonstrate leadership behaviors that impact occupational therapy programs and services;
• Understand the importance of being a lifelong learner that is committed to updating their knowledge;
• Continue to uphold the ethical standards, values, and attitudes of the occupational therapy profession;
• Successfully complete a specialty track within the OTD curriculum (teaching, rehabilitation, pediatrics); and
• Add to the knowledge base of the profession through completion of a scholarly doctoral project.